Handgrip especially adapted for guns



Jan. 4, 1938. KRESS 2,104,129

HANDGRIP ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR GUNS Filed Aug. 25, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENT OR.

Z? ATTORNEY.

Jan. 4, 1938. c. w. KRESS HANDGRIP ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR GUNS Filed Aug. 25, 1957 y*/ .34

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 i ,3;

m YI II NIIIIIIIIIIIIIII III 52' Jan. 4, 1938. c. w. KRESS HANDGRIP ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR GUNS C5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 25. 1937 Patented Jan. 4, 1938 FUNHTED STATE-S FATE"? OFFIQE Claude W. Kress, New York, N. Y.

Application August 25, 1937, Serial No. 160,744

18 Claims.

My invention relates to hand grips for guns and refers particularly tohand grips possessing a greater number of gripping points than those previously known.

The hand grip of a gun is a device carried by the barrels and grasped by the hand of a person to steady and direct the barrels during aiming and firing.

As the butt of the stock rests more or less firmly against the shoulder of a gunner, it acts as a fulcrum or center of movement of the gun, and hence, the necessity of means whereby the barrels may be properly directed and maintained in the exact desired position is evident.

The means usually adopted for this purpose consists of a short longitudinal device positioned below the barrels which is grasped by the thumb upon one side and by four fingers upon the other side, the bottom of the device resting lightly upon the palm of thehand, such devices being usually of wood, hard rubber or similar materials.

It is evident that in devices of this construction there are but two direct gripping pressures, the horizontal pressure of the thumb and the opposing horizontal pressure of the four fingers, and that there is no forward or backward gripping pressure and no vertical gripping pressure.

In order to produce a downward Vertical pressure it is customary for gunners to place their thumbs or fingers, or both, over the top of the barrel, a pressure which is not only ineffective but also interferes with the proper sighting of the gun.

A further disadvantage of the above described hand grip is its inability to allow absorption of the recoil by the gripping hand and its arm, with the result that practically all of the recoil acts upon the shoulder of the gunner.

A further disadvantage of the described hand grips is the inability to properly obtain a lifting grip, as the greater portion of the weight of the gun falls upon the right arm in mounting, thus creating a tendency to lift the elbow of the right arm which allows the stock to seat too loosely and too far away from the center of the body, causing undue shooting toward the left.

My invention overcomes all of the above mentioned, and other, objectionable features of the described hand grips, as will be evident from a consideration of my specification and its accompanying drawings.

The device of my invention is of such construction as to allow of five separate and distinct points of gripping contact and to; enable the user toexercise six direct gripping pressures; to wit, two opposed horizontal pressures longitudinally of the barrels, two opposed horizontal pressures at right angles to the barrels and two opposed vertical pressures.

It is evident to anyone conversant with the art of guns and the science of gunnery that a hand grip as last, described will enable the user to have the maximum of control over a gun as to accuracy of aiming, maintenance of position, insurance of proper mounting, absorption of recoil and ease of general manipulation.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated several modifications of the device of my invention, and the descriptions thereof in my specification will clearly explain their novelty, construction, material, operation and advantages.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating modified forms of the device of my invention, similar parts are designated by similar numeralsz- Figure 1 is a side view of one form of my device adapted to a double barrel gun.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan View of the device of Figure 1.

' Figure 3 is an enlarged side View of the device of Figure 1, showing the position of the device in operation.

Figure 4 is an enlarged bottom view of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section through the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a section through the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a section through the line 1-'! of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the devices of Figures 1 to '7.

Figure 9 is a side View of my device adapted to an over and under gun. 40

Figure 10 is an enlarged section through the line l0l0 of Figure 9. I

Figure 11 is an enlarged section through the line HH of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a perspective View of the founda- 45 tion member of Figures 9, 10, and 11, attached to the gun. I

Figure 13 is a side view of a modified form of the device of my invention.

The particular form of the device of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 8, both inclusive, is adapted for double barrel guns and the formation of the foundation, preferably of wood, is shown in perspective in Figure 8, the drawings representing this element in reversed position from that which it would occupy when incorporated upon a gun, this position being adopted in order to more clearly show and describe the lower portions of this element of my device.

The foundation is preferably a unitary element comprising a downwardly extended elongated member 20, with the reduced portion 20, the upper portion of which is broadened outwardly forming the thumb and finger grip members 2| and 2|, within which are the two elongated spaced parallel annular recesses 22 and 22' open at the top and adapted to receive the two gun barrels 23 and 23.

The rearward end of the members 20' and 2| are extended into the flange member 24, within the lower face of which is a recess 25 adapted to receive a washer 26, a hole 21 extending through the flange member 24 for purposes described later.

The forward end of the members 2| and 2 l are extended into the forward finger grip flange member 28, the plane of the flange members 24 and 28 being perpendicular to the axis of the elongated member 2|].

Projecting forwardly from the flange member .28 is a centrally positioned vertical member 29 and two spaced side members 39 and 3|, the members 38. and .3| having open annular recesses 32 and 33 respectively in alignment with the recesses 22 and 22. and adapted to receive the gun barrels 23 and 23 respectively.

The foundation is attached to a double barrel gun as follows:-

A metallic strip filler 33' is placed between and under the barrels 23 and 23' and attached to the web between the barrels by means of a screw 34. The foundation member is then attached to the filler 33' by means of the threaded bolt 35 passing through the recessed washer 36 and the hole 31 of the member 20 and by means of the threaded bolt 38 passing through the washer 26 and the hole 21 of the member 24.

Fitted around a portion of the foundation member and attached thereto by glue or otherwise is a soft resilient gripping member 39, composed of felt, soft rubber, sponge rubber or other suitable material, but I prefer to employ sponge rubber for this purpose.

The resilient gripping member 39 is then covered with a sheet of rubber, textile or other suitable material 40, which is fixedly attached to the gripping member 39 by glue or otherwise and may be attached to the foundation members by means of screws 4|, 4|, if desired in order to insure firm attachment.

While it is evident that the entire foundation element may be covered by the resilient gripping material, I prefer to cover the portions as shown in the drawings, in which only the central portion carries the resilient material. In this construction the two forefingers 42 and 43 of the hand 44 are capable of pressing firmly upon the finger grip flange 28, the thumb 45 and the two remaining fingers (not shown) being capable of pressing firmly upon the opposing sides'of the finger grip member 2| and the thumb grip member 2|, thus allowing of a firm and constant grip upon the part of the several hand digits.

A comparison of Figures 3 and 5 illustrates the effectiveness of the gripping members of my device.

It will be noted that when the device is grasped by the left hand, the two first fingers 42 and 43 will be separated from each other by the extended member 29 and will press inwardly upon the member 28, the thumb 45 will press inwardly against the member 2| and. the two remaining fingers (not shown) will press inwardly against the member 2|. The soft rubber cushion 39 will rest upon the palm of the hand 44, the rearward portion of the cushion 39 resting upon the ball of the thumb.

It will thus be noted that when the elements of the hand areimoved in gripping position, the two rear fingers and the thumb press in opposite horizontal directions at right angles to the lon- 'gitudinal axes of the barrels, the two fore fingers and the ball of the thumb press in oppesite horizontal directions in alignment with the longitudinal axes of the barrels, and the diagonally downward pressure of the thumb and finger is opposed to the upward vertical pressure of the palm of the hand; thus producing a controlled pressure upon the device in six directions and enabling the gunner to, have a firm grip upon the gun and allowing him to control the direction of the barrels with certainty and accuracy and to firmly maintain the gun in any desired position of operation. 7

It is to be further noted that the extended element 29 separates the two fore fingers thus placing them in position below the respective barrels and hence, balancing the gun and that the two flange members 30 and 3| prevent these fingers from extending above or over the barrels. The thus confined position of the two fore fingers and the compressible member 39 resting upon the palm of the hand, prevent the other two fingers and the thumb from extending above or over the barrels, thus overcoming an objectionable feature incident to the use of the usually employed gun hand grip.

It is to be further noted that because of the firm grip upon my device by the left hand, a great proportion. of the recoil will be absorbed by the left arm of the gunner, thus relieving his shoulder from much of the recoil shock, and that the compressible material of the device will pre" vent in large measure the blistering of the palm of the hand and the ball of the thumb incident to the recoil effect in the present employed hand grip.

In Figures 9 to 12, inclusive, I illustrate the adaptation of the device of my invention to an over and under double barrel gun, in which it is necessary to make slight alterations in the foundation member of my device in order to adapt it to this particular gun formation, while still retaining the general'principle of my invention.

The foundation member of this modified form of my device comprises two longitudinally elongated elements 59 and 50', preferably of wood, having the rear block elements 5| and 5|, the forward block elements 52 and 52 and the forwardly extended gun barrel receiving members 53 and 53.

The elongated members 5! and 50 have longitudinal superimposed open annular recesses 54 and 54' and 55 and 55' adapted to receive the gun barrels 56 and 51. The two component elements 59 and 50 are connected together by means of the threaded bolts 58, 58 and 58, 58, passing through holes in the members 50 and 59' respectively and threading with the web 69 connecting the barrels 56 and 51.

The elements of the foundation member are encased in a compressible resilient material 6| and covering 62 in a manner similar to that employed in the previously described form of the device of my invention.

The modified form of my device illustrated in Figure 13 is similar in its general construction to those previously described, except that it is not covered with a pliable resilient material, the sides of the grip, as side 10 shown in the drawings being somewhat flat and embossed ll if desired to increase the gripping propensity the corresponding opposite side being of similar construction.

While I have described the device of my invention as applied to guns, it is evident that it may have other applications.

I do not limit myself to the particular size, shape, number, arrangement, or material of the parts as specifically shown and described, as these are given simply as a means for clearly describing the device of my invention.

What I claim is:

1; In a device of the character described, in combination, an elongated lower member, an upper elongated member carried by said lower member, an extended flange member abutting upon the rear ends of said lower member and said upper member, an extended flange member abutting upon the forward ends of said lower member and said upper member and two spaced members extending forwardly from the upper portion of said forward flange member. I

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, an elongated lower member, an upper elongated member carried by said lower member, an extended flange member abutting upon the rear ends of said lower member and said upper member, an extended flange member abutting upon the forward ends of said lower member and said upper member, two spaced members extending forwardly from the upper portion of said forward flange member and a separating member extending forwardly from said forward flange member and positioned between said two spaced members.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, an elongated lower member, an upper elongated member carried by said lower mem-' her, and having at least one longitudinal recess therein, an extended flange member abutting upon the rear ends of said lower member and said upper member, an extended flange member abutting upon the forward ends of said lower member and said upper member and two spaced members extending forwardly from the upper portion of said forward flange member.

4. In a. device of the character described, in combination, an elongated lower member, an upper elongated member carried by said lower member and having at least one longitudinal recess therein, an extended flange member abutting upon the rear ends of said lower member and said upper member, an extended flange member abutting upon the forward ends of said lower member and said upper member, two spaced members extending forwardly from the upper portion of said forward flange member, and a separating member extending forwardly from said forward flange member and positioned between said two spaced members.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, an elongated lower member, an upper elongated member carried by said lower member and extending thereover, an extended flange member abutting upon the rear ends of said lower member and said upper member, an extended flange member abutting upon the forward ends of said lower member and said upper member and two spaced members extending forwardly from the upper portion of said forward flange member.

6. In a device of the character described, in combination, an elongated lower member, an upper elongated member carried by said lower member and extending thereover, an extended flange member abutting upon the rear ends of said lower member and said upper member, an extended flange member abutting upon the forward ends of said lower member and said upper member, two spaced members extending forwardly from the upper portion of said forward flange member, and a separating member extending forwardly from said forward flange member and positioned between said two spaced members.

7. In a device of the character described, in combination, an elongated lower member, an upper elongated member carried by said lower member, extending thereover and having at least one longitudinal recess therein, an extended flange member abutting upon the rear ends of said lower member and said upper member, an extended flange member abutting upon the forward ends of said lower member and said upper member and two spaced members extending forwardly from the upper portion of saidforward flange member.

8. In a device of the character described, in combination, an elongated lower member, an upper elongated member carried by said lower member, extending thereover and having at least 7 one longitudinal recess therein, an extended flange member abutting upon the rear ends of said lower member and said upper member, an extended flange member abutting upon the forward ends of said lower member and said upper member, two spaced members extending forwardly from the upper portion of said forward flange member, and a separating member extending forwardly from said forward flange memher and positioned between said two spaced members.

9. In a device of the character described, in combination, an elongated lower member, an upper elongated member carried by said lower member, an extended flange member abutting upon the rear ends of said lower member and said upper member, an extended flange member abutting upon the forward ends of said lower member and said upper member and two spaced members extending forwardly from the upper portion of said forward flange member and a compressible resilient material covering at least a portion of the device above described.

10. In a device of the character described, in combination, an elongated lower member, an upper elongated member carried by said lower member, an extended flange member abutting upon the rear ends of said lower member and said upper member, an extended flange member abutting upon the forward ends of said lower member and said upper member, two spaced members extending forwardly from the upper portion of said forward flange member and a separating member extending forwardly from said forward flange member and positioned between said two spaced members and a compressible resilient material covering at least a portion of the device above described.

11. In a device of the character described, in combination, an elongated lower member, an upper elongated member carried by said lower member, and having at least one longitudinal recess therein, an extended flange member abutting upon the rear ends of said lower member and said upper member, an extended flange member abutting upon the forward ends of said lower member and said upper member, two spaced members extending forwardly from the upper portion of said forward flange member and a compressible resilient material covering at least a portion of the device above described.

12. In a device of the character described, in combination, an elongated lower member, an upper elongated member carried by said lower member, and having at least one longitudinal recess therein, an extended flange member abutting upon the rear ends of said lower member and said upper member, an extended flange member abutting upon the forward ends of said lower member and said upper member, two spaced members extending forwardly from the upper portion of said forward flange member, a separating member extending forwardly from said forward flange member and positioned between said two spaced members and a compressible resilient material covering at least a portion of the device above described.

13. In a device of the character described, in combination, an elongated lower member, an upper elongated member carried by said lower member, and extending thereover, an extended flange member abutting upon the rear ends of said lower member and said upper member, an extended flange member abutting upon the forward ends of said lower member and said upper member, two spaced members extending for-- wardly from the upper portion of said forward flange member and a compressible resilient material covering at least a portion of the device above described.

14. In a device of the character described, in combination, an elongated lower member, an upper elongated member carried by said lower member and extending thereover, an extended flange member abutting upon the rear ends of said lower member and said upper member, an extended flange member abutting upon the forward ends of said lower member and said upper member, two spaced members extending forwardly from the upper portion of said forward flange member, and a separating member extending forwardly from said forward flange member and positioned between said two spaced members and a compressible resilient material covering at least a portion of the device above described.

15. In a device of the character described, in combination, an elongated lower member, an upper elongated member carried by said lower member, extending thereover and having at least one longitudinal recess therein, an extended flange member abutting upon; the rear ends of said lower member and said upper member, an extended flange member abutting upon the forward ends of said lower member and said upper member and two spaced members extending forwardly from the upper portion of said forward flange member, and a compressible resilient material covering at least a portion of the device above described.

16. In a device of the character described, in combination, an elongated lower member, an upper elongated member carried by saidlower member, extending thereover and having at least one longitudinal recess therein, an extended flange member abutting upon the rear ends of said lower member and said upper member, an extended flange member abutting upon the forward ends of said lower member and said upper member, two spaced members extending forwardly from the upper portion of said forward flange member, and a separating member extending forwardly from said forward flange member and positioned between said two spaced members, and a compressible resilient material covering at least a portion of the device above described.

1'7. In a device of the character described, in combination, an elongated lower member, an upper elongated member carried by said lower member, an extended flange member abutting upon the rear ends of said lower member and said upper member, an extended flange member abutting upon, the forward ends of said lower member and said upper member and two spaced members extending forwardly from the upper portion of said forward flange member, and a compressible resilient materialcovering the central portion of the device above described.

18. In a device of the character described, in combination, an elongated lower member, an upper elongated member carried. by said lower member, an extended flange member abutting upon the rear ends of said lower member and said upper member abutting upon the forward ends of said lower member and said upper member, two spaced members extending forwardly from the upper portion of said'forward flange member, a separating member extending forwardly from said forward flange member and positioned between said two spaced members and a compressible resilient material covering the central portion of the device above described.

CLAUDE W. KRESS. 

